By Mike Finney

DOVER — A Mexican dinner and a margarita on an outdoor patio near Silver Lake could soon become a reality.

During its meeting Monday, Dover’s Planning Commission approved a site-development plan regarding construction of an El Azteca Mexican Restaurant at 801 N. State St. by an 8-0 vote (one absent).

There remain several Planning Commission permissions before the proposal can receive final approval and move to a Dover City Council vote.

While the eatery did receive some opposition from residents of the Overlook Place development — just to the east of the site — planning commissioners decided that the 7,681-square-foot establishment would be an asset to the community.

The North State Street property is the site of the former home of the late Muriel Schwartz, a Dover theater owner and civic leader.

Ms. Schwartz’s two-story, 2,300-square-foot colonnaded home was heavily damaged in a fire in October 2016. It sat unoccupied for several years before that.

The 1.934-acre property, overlooking Silver Lake, is on the east side of North State Street, between Lepore Road and the Silver Lake bridge.

Jamie Sechler of the Milford architectural firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel, represented developer Lopez Kent County in presenting the project to the commission.

“We did meet with the (Kent) Conservation District prior to this evening to go over the Silver Lake drainage study, and there didn’t seem to be any issues,” Mr. Sechler said. “I think we’ll be able to work through all that in our design with them.

“The restaurant is also located in a way that the rear of the restaurant faces away from all the residential (areas) adjacent to us. We won’t be directing noise or anything like that towards the residential properties.”

Residents voiced concern about the potential for late-night noise and a trash receptacle behind the building. Many were underwhelmed by the 6-foot fence that will surround El Azteca’s property.

Tonya Brinkley, who lives in Overlook Place, was dismayed at the proposition of a restaurant adjacent to her home.

“I am smack dab in the middle of this restaurant development,” she said. “I’ve been here approximately a year-and-a-half, and I’m not very happy.

“I looked at the plans, and I agree with (another speaker) about the trash can. I don’t want to smell it, see it or see the rodents or anything else that is going to be associated with that. I’m upset about the loading dock that is going to be there and the diesel fuel that I’m sure is going to permeate through my bedroom window.”

She added that she is not thrilled with the construction and the noise the project will be bringing.

“Having this be so close, and a new resident, I’m not in favor of this,” said Ms. Brinkley. “I understand growth and development like nobody’s business. I currently work for the city of Baltimore, Maryland. I come here to rest and get peace and quiet.

“There’s (currently) beautiful landscape, great animals. You see all kind of weird stuff, but I’d rather have that than the noise and pollution from a restaurant in my backyard.”

Some of the Planning Commission members also had concern but said that working through some of the issues — such as possibly raising the fence and moving the trash container — could help mitigate them.

El Azteca has had a site less than a mile away from the proposed location — at 859 N. DuPont Highway in front of The Home Depot — for the past several years.